High water levels in Lake Champlain have prompted Colchester to move its July 4 fireworks from Bayside Beach to the softball field at Bayside Park. Crowds can view the fireworks from the Colchester High School practice fields, Upper Bayside Park or Lower Bayside Park. The show begins at dusk.

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The Burlington Independence Day fireworks show Wednesday night is set to be shorter than usual, but with more fireworks, organizers say.

Burlington has contracted with a new fireworks company, Northstar Fireworks in East Montpelier, to produce the annual show over Lake Champlain. The 25-minute display is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. and will feature more than 3,000 fireworks, said Jesse Bridges, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

In previous years, the show has lasted as long as 35 minutes. Northstar Fireworks won the contract with a plan for about 1,000 more fireworks than other companies had proposed, including the company that produced the show last year.

“They really were pitching to do a little bit of a shorter show with less of the black sky and more of the action,” Bridges said at a news conference Monday morning at the Burlington Community Boathouse on the waterfront.

The city intends to announce any weather-related change of plans by noon Wednesday, Bridges said.

“We’re monitoring the weather closely,” he said. “The show has gone off before in the rain. The rain won’t hurt.”

Organizers would postpone the show because of high winds over 21 knots — that’s about 21 mph — or thunder and lightning within a 60-mile radius, said Maggie Leugers, Burlington recreation superintendent. In that case, Leugers said, Burlington would move the fireworks to Friday. Burlington does not hold its fireworks on July 4 to avoid conflicting with celebrations in other towns.

“To my knowledge, it has never been canceled,” said Leugers, who said she has worked with the Parks and Recreation Department for 27 years. “And I don’t expect it’s going to cancel this July 3, either.”

The pyrotechnics, which cost $40,000 and are paid for by sponsors, are scheduled to top off a series of activities throughout the afternoon and evening, including face painting, an obstacle course and bagpipe players who will stroll around the waterfront.

Mayor Miro Weinberger estimated that 50,000 to 75,000 people throughout the city will watch the fireworks, which will also be broadcast live by ABC 22.

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In previous years, fireworks had been launched from the Burlington breakwater and from a barge. Using the breakwater is impossible this year because of high water levels in Lake Champlain, Bridges said. Instead, the Lake Champlain Transportation Company will provide a second barge for setting off the pyrotechnics for an additional $2,500. The city and Northstar Fireworks will split that additional expense, Bridges said.

The high lake level could also mean less space for spectators on the waterfront and beaches, where the city expects thousands of people to gather.

With the crowds come safety concerns, officials say. Pyrotechnics of any kind, including sparklers, are prohibited in city parks and beaches, said Fire Marshal Barry Simays. Sparklers can burn between 1,800 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and cause injury.

“Leave the fireworks displays to the licensed, trained professionals,” Simays said. He also cautioned that spectators should leave pets at home because of the crowds and loud noises associated with the events.

Officials encourage celebrants to take a shuttle from the Gutterson Fieldhouse or other alternative transportation to avoid high traffic before and after the fireworks.

“We just ask the public to be patient. It’s going to take some time to get everybody out of the city,” Simays said. “Just be safe, use common sense, and everybody will have a wonderful event.”